Rooney’s bill (A4349) requires the department to develop a program for stores and municipal recycling centers to collect and recycle plastic bags and film, such as bread and produce bags, food storage bags, and paper towel and bathroom tissue wrappings.

“It’s not that used plastic bags, wraps and film can’t be recycled, they just need to be recycled differently,” said Rooney.

The department will also develop an education program about the dangers of plastics, how people can reduce their use, and where items can be taken to be recycled. The new program will have no additional cost to the state or local taxpayers.

“Instead of turning to another new, useless tax it’s time we implement real changes to help the environment and residents of New Jersey,” concluded Rooney.

I would be delighted to be able to recycle the plastic that covers almost everything we buy, such as a dozen rolls of paper towels or toilet paper and other collections of smaller bags–Halloween candy and small bags of potato chips, for example. I hope it’s the next big thing in recycling. Makes sense.